WNBA rookie tracker: Clark, Fever win third straight game, move to 6-10
The 2024 WNBA season is only five weeks old, and rookies remain a dominant storyline.
But Cameron Brink, one of the top players in one of the most anticipated rookie classes in league history, is out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL on Tuesday.
The No. 2 pick in April’s draft, Brink went down in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Sparks‘ loss Tuesday. The Sparks on Wednesday confirmed the injury.
Like fellow rookies Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, Brink had started every game for her team this season.
“You never think it will happen to you. And despite all the hard work sometimes it does,” Brink wrote Wednesday on Instagram. “This is hard to fathom but I know it will only make me stronger.”
We will continue to track the top rookie performances every time they take the court, so check back every game day.
Last updated: June 19
Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Clark stacked up the stats at Iowa, finishing with 17 triple-doubles in her college career. Wednesday, she got closer again to being the first WNBA rookie and first Fever player ever to get a triple-double as Indiana won its third game in a row.
In the Fever’s 88-81 victory over Washington, Clark finished with 18 points, a season-high 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Clark was 6 of 12 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Clark also had 6 turnovers, but in the postgame news conference teammate, teammate Aliyah Boston said, “Don’t worry about it … we know she’s a great passer.”
Clark is the first rookie to have consecutive games with at least 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists since Candace Parker did so for Los Angeles in 2008. Clark trails former Fever star Tamika Catchings (eight) and Parker (seven) for most 15/5/5 games as a rookie; Clark now has 6.
Of her team-high rebound total, Clark joked, “Don’t get used to it.” She averaged 7.1 rebounds in her college career and is at 5.5 RPG so far in the WNBA.
What we learned: For the second game in a row, the Fever shot over 50% from the field, and the connection the players have keeps growing. After starting 1-8, the Fever are 6-10. Dating to June 1, they have won four home games in a row. That’s something the franchise hadn’t done since 2015; the Fever lost to the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals that year.
“I think everybody just loves instant satisfaction in our world,” Clark said of how she and the Fever dealt with outside negativity about their slow start. “No one came in here and said we were going to be WNBA champions from Day 1 … our goal was to get back to the playoffs. And we’re fighting for that every single night. You have to have perspective on things, and that goes for life, too.
“There needs to be solid perspective on what this team can accomplish. And I think everybody in our locker room had that. We had the hardest schedule to start, we didn’t get to practice much and we’re playing with the most inexperienced team in the WNBA. I think this group is starting to click and build some chemistry.” — Michael Voepel
Up next: at Atlanta Dream on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: It seemed early in Wednesday’s 88-81 loss to Indiana that Edwards was going to be targeted by Indiana post player Aliyah Boston. The Fever standout is in her second year, so she knows what it’s like being a rookie in the paint.
Boston might be young, too, but she was teaching school Wednesday. She finished with 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field and 5 of 5 from the line. According to Second Spectrum, Boston had 8 points on 3 of 4 shooting against Edwards as the primary defender. Still, the rookie shouldn’t feel bad; Boston also 6 points on 3 of 3 shooting against veteran Stefanie Dolson.
Offensively, Edwards was 1 of 6 from the field for and 2 of 2 from the line for 4 points.
What we learned: Overall, Edwards’ June has been good, especially for a rookie post player on a team with the fewest wins in the league. In her seven games this month, Edwards has scored in double figures four times, averaging 11.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. — Voepel
Up next: vs. Dallas Wings on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN3)
0:46
Cameron Brink exits with apparent injury
Sparks rookie Cameron Brink hobbles off the floor after suffering an injury early vs. the Sun.
Forward | 6-foot-4 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Brink went down with a left knee injury in the first quarter of Los Angeles’ 79-70 loss at Connecticut on Tuesday as she fell while driving to the basket. On Wednesday, the Sparks announced the rookie had suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. The injury also means Brink will miss the Paris Olympics; she was named to the four-person U.S. women’s 3×3 Olympic team earlier this month.
A 6-foot-4 forward, Brink had started every game this season for the Sparks. For the season, she averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. She was on pace to become the first rookie to average at least 7 PPG, 5 RPG and 2 BPG since Brittney Griner in 2013.
What we learned: The Sparks lost the fourth game of a seven-game road stretch Tuesday. With Brink out, center Li Yueru played a season-high 26 minutes and had 11 points. Li, 25, was drafted out of China in 2019 by the Atlanta Dream but didn’t play in the WNBA until 2022 with the Chicago Sky. This is her second WNBA season.
“Unintended consequences of injuries are it’s going to open the door for someone like [Li Yueru],” Sparks coach Curt Miller said Tuesday night.
Los Angeles is 4-11. It’s a huge blow to lose such a high-profile rookie. — Voepel
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Fellow rookie Brink left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury, putting more on Jackson’s shoulders. She finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in the 79-70 loss at Connecticut.
Jackson has scored in double figures for the past three games and four of the past five.
What we learned: Sunday, Jackson and Brink combined for 32 points, which was a big bright spot despite the Sparks’ loss at Atlanta. Now, Los Angeles awaits Brink’s injury status.
If Brink is out for any amount of time, Jackson will need to step forward more. Her season high in points (19) and rebounds (10) came June 14 in a loss at Minnesota.
“Unfortunately, the best teams don’t always win in the WNBA. The healthiest teams win,” Miller said. “We send well wishes to all other 11 teams in the league to stay healthy.” — Voepel
Up next: at New York Liberty on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
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Angel Reese on officiating: ‘I guess some people got a special whistle’
Angel Reese says her flagrant 1 on Caitlin Clark was a “basketball play” and voices some frustration with the officiating.
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Reese had 11 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists as the Sky fell 91-83 at Indiana on Sunday. It was Reese’s seventh double-double, the most of any Sky rookie in history. Retired star center Sylvia Fowles, the WNBA’s all-time leader in double-doubles, previously held the Chicago rookie record with six, set in 2008.
Reese’s seven consecutive games with double-digit rebounds also set a WNBA rookie record. But Reese was irritated by foul calls in Sunday’s game, as she finished with five. She also didn’t agree with being called for a flagrant foul 1 against Indiana’s Clark, but the contact she inadvertently made with Clark’s head on a shot-block attempt basically made that upgrade automatic.
What we learned: Chicago has lost four games in a row, all by single digits. While that’s frustrating, it shows that the Sky are competing pretty well, even if they’re not getting the results they want.
Reese’s performances this season have been consistent, and a lot like how she played in college. That’s mostly quite good. She is an elite rebounder, but she must keep working on her shooting percentage. Sunday, she was 4-of-13 from the field (30.7%), and for the season she’s shooting 37.1%. — Voepel
Up next: vs. Dallas Wings on Thursday (noon ET)
Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Cardoso had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists in the Sky’s 91-83 loss at Indiana on Sunday. She was 4-of-11 from the field (36.4%), which is low for her; she is shooting 48.9% for the season.
Cardoso and Reese became the first rookie teammates to get double-doubles in the same game since 2008, when the Minnesota Lynx’s Candice Wiggins and Charde Houston did it. Considering how both Reese and Cardoso have played thus far, it seems likely we’ll see more dual double-doubles from them this season.
What we learned: The Sky rookie post players had good games, but the Fever’s slightly older posts did better. Second-year pro Aliyah Boston and third-year pro NaLyssa Smith combined for 34 points, 21 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 blocks for Indiana. — Voepel
Up next: vs. Dallas Wings on Thursday (noon ET)
